Pepper named ‘06C84’

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a new and distinct pepper plant known as  Capisum annuum  L. ‘06C84’, which displays a unique prostrate, indeterminate, spreading growth habit unlike that of the standard pepper plants. Plants of ‘06C84’, are characterized by black foliage, numerous small round solitary black fruits that mature red, and a vigorous low prostrate growth habit.

Genus and species of the claimed plant: Capisum annuum.

Variety denomination: ‘06C84’.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a new and distinct pepper plant known as Capisumannuum L. ‘06C84’.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED PRIOR ART

Several commercial ornamental peppers are known. Ornamental peppersrange in size and shape from short, compact plants with piquin sizedfruits, such as ‘Holiday Cheer’, to plants as tall as 1 meter with fullsized fruits, such as ‘NuMex Mirasol’. Nearly all ornamental peppershave been primarily developed based upon unique fruit characteristics.‘06C84’ may be distinguished from all of the ornamental peppers known tous based upon its unique plant habitat. ‘06C84’has a prostrate,indeterminate, spreading growth habit. Other peppers may be dwarf, suchas ‘Holiday Cheer’ and ‘Medusa’, but are compact and not spreading.

The characteristics of ‘06C84’ were compared to the most similar planton the market-‘Black Pearl’ (Plant Variety Protection Certificate number200500020). ‘Black Pearl’ plants are smaller (45 cm in diameter and 31cm in height), with larger (8.2 cm in length and 3.5 cm in width) butsimilar shaped (simple, entire, symmetrical, and lanceolate with anapiculate tip) leaves and leaf color (Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart number 202A). Flowers of ‘Black Pearl’ are similar in size(average 2.1 cm) and color (Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chartnumber 81A) to ‘06C84’. Fruit of ‘Black Pearl’ are very different infruit shape (round and average 1.6 cm in diameter) and mature fruitcolor (Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart number 46A) and areborne in clusters (5-7 fruit per cluster).

ORIGIN OF THE NEW PLANT

The pepper plant originated from a controlled cross at the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service greenhouses inBeltsville, Md. ‘06C84’ is an F₁ selection derived from initial crossesbetween the USDA pepper release ‘90C44’, a selection from the heirloomtabasco-type pepper ‘Royal Black’, and the heirloom ornamentalround-fruited type pepper ‘Christmas Cheer’. The pedigree is complex(FIG. 1) and none of the parents were protected. ‘06C84’ recombines manydifferent characteristics from all of the different parents and does notresemble any single parent. For example plants of ‘Christmas Cheer’produce round yellow fruit that ripen red on green foliaged plants;while plants of ‘Royal Black’ produce tabasco shape immature fruit thatripen to red on variegated green and purple foliaged plants. ‘90C44’ wasderived from interbreeding a diverse collection of small-fruited pungentgermplasm from India. Most of the seedlings in this cross had green topurple variegated foliage. ‘90C44’ was unique among the progeny inhaving solid purple foliage. The genes for the black foliage of ‘06C84’were derived from intercrosses of ‘90C44’ and ‘Royal Black’. Prostrategrowth habit and round fruit shape are derived from ‘Christmas Cheer’.Early generation selections focused on prostrate growth habit, followedby recurrent selection for intensity of black foliage pigmentation.‘06C84’ has a very unique prostrate and spreading grown habit combinedwith black foliage.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW PLANT

This application relates to a new and distinct pepper plant, known asCapisum annuum ‘06C84’. The following characteristic is outstanding.When compared to all other pepper plants known to us, ‘06C84’ has aunique combination of indeterminate and prostrate growth habitatcombined with black foliage.

The following characteristics are useful in distinguishing this plantand can be useful for plant identification:

-   -   1. Plants produce greater than three basal shoots that grow        laterally, instead of upright forming a vigorous low prostrate        growth habit (39 cm height and 98 cm diameter).    -   2. Plants produce numerous small round (1.2 cm) upright oriented        solitary black fruits that mature red.    -   3. Plants produce black foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical characteristics of the newplant.

FIG. 1 shows the parentage of ‘06C84’.

FIG. 2 shows a mature plant of ‘06C84’ in September 2007.

FIG. 3 shows mature red and immature black fruit and black leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new plant, together withthe plant's morphological characteristics. The characteristics of theplant were compared to the similar ‘Black Pearl’ (HortScience,40:1571-1573). The description is based upon plants grown in the fieldat Beltsville, Md. about 90 days post-transplanting.

‘06C84’ is a diploid (2n=2x=24) herbaceous annual. ‘06C84’ has performeduniformly in multiple trials. Leaves and stems are glabrous and glossy.Leaves are simple, entire, symmetrical, and lanceolate with an apiculatetip. Mature leaves average 4.5 cm in length (range: 4.0 to 5.0 cm) and2.4 cm in width (range: 2.3 to 2.5 cm). Petiole length averages 2.1 cm(range: 2.0 to 2.2 cm). Adaxial leaf surface is black (RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart number 202A). ‘Black Pearl’ haslarger, but similar shaped and colored leaves. ‘Black Pearl’ leavesaverage 8.2 cm in length (range: 7.4 to 11.0 cm) and 3.5 cm in width(range: 2.9 to 4.5 cm).

The plant habit of ‘06C84’ is unique. Unlike the growth habit of allornamental peppers known to us, ‘06C84’ has a vigorous prostrate andindeterminate habit. Plants average 98 cm in diameter (range: 93 to 102cm) and 39 cm in height (range: 38 to 43 cm). While ‘Black Pearl’ plantsaverage 45 cm in diameter (range: 44 to 47 cm) and 31 cm in height(range: 29 to 34 cm).

‘06C84’ flowers are self-compatible, hermaphroditic, pentamerous andhypogynous. The purple flowers (Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chartnumber 81A) average 1.5 cm in diameter (range: 1.3 to 1.8 cm) and havepurple filaments and styles. Flowers of ‘Black Pearl’ are similar.

‘06C84’ fruits are solitary and are borne upright. There areapproximately 738 fruit per plant and an average of 33 seed per fruit(range: 30 to 36). Immature fruits are black (Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart number 202A) and mature to red (Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart number 46A). Fruits are globe shaped and average1.2 cm in diameter (range: 1.0 to 1.3 cm). The upright pedicels average1.6 cm (range: 1.4 to 2.0 cm). Fruit are extremely pungent. Since‘06C84’ is intended for ornamental applications, Scoville pungency unitswere not determined. Fruit of ‘Black Pearl’ are similar in shape andcolor, but are larger and borne in clusters of 6 to 8. ‘Black Pearl’fruit average 1.6 cm in diameter (range: 1.3 to 1.7 cm).

Typical of C. annuum, ‘06C84’ is a warm-season crop requiring minimumdaytime temperatures of 18 to 21 C. Optimal growth is achieved at highertemperatures up to 32 C. Plants grow poorly in the 5 to 15 C range andare frost-susceptible. Like most peppers, ‘06C84’ is field tolerant tomost pests and diseases, e.g., Fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, aphids,and mites, based on field reaction, not in controlled testing.

‘06C84’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative shoot cuttings oversuccessive generations since 2005. Over that period no off-type of‘06C84’ has been observed or reported to us. Thus it is concluded that‘06C84’ is stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction. Plants were propagated at Beltsville, Md. andDearing, Ga.

References

Royal Horticultural Society. 1966. Royal Horticultural Society colourchart. Royal Hort. Soc., London, UK.

Stommel, J. R. and P. W. Bosland. 2006. Pepper, Ornamental, Capsicumannuum, p. 561-599. In: Anderson, N. O. (ed.). Flower breeding andgenetics: Issues, challenges and opportunities for the 21st century.Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Stommel, J. R. and R. G. Griesbach. 1993. New ornamental Capsicumgermplasm: Lines 90C40, 90C44, and 90C53. HortScience 28:858-859.

Stommel, J. R. and R. G. Griesbach. 2005. Capsicum annuum L. ‘BlackPearl’. HortScience 40:1571-1573.

1. A new and distinct pepper plant known as ‘06C84’ as described herein,illustrated and identified by the characteristics set forth above.